Lack of fundamental from E string using Rotosound medium swing bass strings.

[Meddle]

Hello all. I figured today my bass would get a treat so I got some new strings for it. Its a Washburn Taurus T24 and I've been using 50/50 the stock round from it and a set of groundwounds I picked up. I've had this bass since August and the stock rounds still had a bit of snap to them. If it helps I usually play for about an hour every day and footle around for about another hour.


So today I strung up the Rotosound set RS 66M. I heard about Rotosounds because of Chris Squire and Entwistle so I figured they were the go-to rounds.

Now my first problem is with just how rough these strings are! I will be growing calluses on my calluses before these are done with. Secondly the A string looks a little mottled for some reason (these strings are not sealed in their box and I guess they can doss around a guitar shop drawer for a long time). My biggest mistake is that about half a centimeter of silk wrap actuall comes over the nut on the A string and onto the 1st fret area, though it seems to only minimally be impacting on the tone and I tend not to use an open A string.

However my biggest problem is the E string. It is really zingy and has a bucketload of harmonic overtones but the actual fundamental note is somewhat burried. This is not a big problem with the open string but on fretted notes it sounds unacceptable. A really 'gunky' sound that although consistent up and down the neck is still pretty unusable.

I may yet need to put the old E back on, but is there any other suggestions? I've already jacked up the action a bit as these strings have a lot less tension than the groundwounds I was using but I don't want to have to tap into the trussrod yet.

[SurferJoe46]

Can't answer the fundamental problem, but you can push the silk a little higher if you like.

I adjust my silks to military dressed lines as I hate a long and short silk standing next to each other.

I didn't like the 66s either - felt like saw blades to my fingers.

[RickenBoogie]

Could be the strings, or, could be your set up. I'd check that if it hasn't been set up properly after changing strings.

[darkstorm]

Dunno why the silk would be across the nut, never had that happen with rotosounds in the 30 plus yrs Ive used them. Same for the sound problem your haveing. You mentioned theyed been sitting in a drawer at music store for long time? Why have they? Why wherent they out with the rest of the strings? Perhaps you have a defective set or twisted strings for the sound part of the problem?

[Meddle]

I got round the problem by putting on a thicker E string. Maybe its a pet peeve. As for the silk over the nut I will chop it back when I have the time. These strings sound ok actually and my fingers didn't seem to mind the rough too much.

Thanks for the advice!

[Tim C.]

I've been using Roto's exclusively for years and I'd say that they do not produce the super low frequencies as well as other strings. My E string always sounded a little "thin". It's not just you.